Buckle



'A. LEIGHTON.

BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, l9l9.

' Patented Mar. 2,1920.

anewtoz A Zerilfifghion UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT LEIGHTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUCKLE.

Application filed June 17, 1919.

To all whom it mam concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT LEIGHTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a suspender buckle wherebyall stitching, riveting and such like methods of attaching the suspenderweb or webs to the slides, tabs and other adjust-ing devices are doneaway with.

To this end the invention consists in the construction of the adjustingbuckles for varying the length of the suspender straps to suit theparticular wearer, whereby the whole suspender may be designed andconstructed to the end that all of the adjusting and retaining devicesmay be attached to the suspender web without the necessity of stitchingand the like as hereinbefore stated, all as I will proceed now toexplain and finally claim.

"In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is aperspective view showing suspenders with the adjusting devices inposition thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view showing thebuckle applied to the suspender web. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the'partsshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a section taken on line 4& of Fig. 2. Fig. 5is an elevation of the buckle detached. Figs. 6 and 7 show twomodifications of the buckle.

The suspenders comprise a preferably continuous web 1 so arranged withrespect to the slides 2, 2 and 3 and the buckles as to form the backstraps 4 and shoulder straps 5, the ends of the web being attached tothe buckles in the manner hereinafter described.

The slide 3 is similar to that described in my Patent No. 1256580granted February 19, 1918, and permits of adjusting the point where theback-straps cross so as to accommodate the height of the wearer, and somake the suspenders comfortable when in use, but it may be made ofdifferent designs and of various materials. The buckle is constructedpreferably of sheet metal and comprises a frame which may be made inornamental design if desired but for pur- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 304,840.

pose of illustration is here shown as of simple rectangular form havingside bars 6, top and bottom bars 7 and 8 respectively, and intermediatecross-bars 9, 10 and 11, which form between them and with the bars 7 and8, openings 12, 13, 1st and 15. The cross-bar 10 is provided with prongs16 adapted to pass through and firmly fix the attached end 17 of thesuspender web or strap 1, thus obviating the necessity for sewing,eyeleting or riveting the attached end as is the common practice. Thecrossbar 9 and bottom bar 8 as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, are provided withupwardly projecting prongs or teeth 18 to engage the free or adjustingend 19 of the suspender web or strap 1, so that when the web is drawntaut as in use, they will penetrate it and prevent it from slipping outof adjustment.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the lower set of teeth or prongs 18instead of being formed on the bottom bar 8 and extending upwardlytherefrom are formed on the cross-bar 11 and extend downwardly, so thatwhen the free end 19 of the Suspender web is passed through the openings15 and 12 the teeth on bar 9 will prevent it from slipping out ofadjustment from the downward drag of the trousers and the teeth on bar11 will prevent it from slipping upward when the suspenders are flexed.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a modification in which, in additiOn to theteeth or impaling points 18 on bar 9, there is provided a swingingimpaling member 20 pivotally secured in the hinge members 21 preferablystruck up from the buckle frame. This member terminates in downwardlyextending prongs 22 as shown in said figure. The object of these prongsis to penetrate the suspender web or strap as it passes through thelower portion of the frame and serves to hold it securely in place andto prevent it from slipping after it has been properly adjusted.

The method of threading the suspender strap or web through the buckle isbest un derstood by reference to Fig. 4. and is as follows: The end 17of the web is passed through opening 12 from the back, then over theface of the buckle and backwardly through opening 15, then through theslide 2 from front to back, then upwardly and through opening 13 fromback to front and impaled upon the prongs 16, and finally downwardly andthrough opening 14: from front to back to form a bight and with:

If preferred this suspender can also be made up of two pieces of web,using the adjusting loop (3) at ,the back of the susponder holding them'securely in position and which loop can also be movably adjust- ,edupwardly or downwardly to suit the convenience of the wearer.

The attachments used on this suspender may also be used in themanufacture of garters and other similar devices.

It is tobe understood that I do not intend my invention to be limited tothe specific embodiment shown and described, as it is obvious thatvarious changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts maybe made Within the spirit of the "invention and the scope of the claimsfollowing.

What I claim is:

' 1. A suspender buckle comprising a frame composed of side members, topand bottom bars and intermediate cross-bars, upwardly projecting prongson one of said cross-bars for penetrating the end of a suspender web tosecurely fix it thereto, and pivoted web engaging means on others ofsaid bars for engagement with the body of said web to hold the buckleinadjusted position thereon.

2. A suspender buckle comprising a frame having side bars, top andbottom bars and a plurality of cross-bars intermediate said top andbottom'bars and forming a plurality of web-threading openings betweenthem, prongs on one of said cross-bars adapted to penetrate and therebyfixedly secure the end of a suspender web to said buckle, and movableimpaling devices on others of said bars for engaging the'body of the weband in conjunction with said openings permit of adjustment ofsaid bucklealong said web and hold the buckle thereon in adjusted position. 1

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ALBERT LEIGHTON.

Witnesses:v I H. TRUMAN MoRsE,

LoUIs PETERSON;

